Box-fastener



(ModeL) 2 SheetsShet 1 J. W. HARLOW.

BOX PASTENER.

Patented May 13, 1884.

(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. HARLOW.

BOX PASTENER. v

Patented May 13, 1884.

UivTTnn dTaTTs PATENT FFTCEQ BOX-FA$TENER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,689, dated May 13, 1884. Application filed February 16, 1884. (ModeL) To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WV. HARLOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Clamping and Holding Lids 011 Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its main object to provide novel mechanism for clamping and holding the cover or lid of a box in a closed position, to secure a sealed joint between the cover or lid and box, whereby moths and other insects are prevented from gaining access to the interior of the box, which renders the latter especially desirable and useful for preserving muffs, furs, and other articles against the ravages of insects and the influences of the external atmosphere.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and novel combinations, which will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, a similar View with the clamping and locking mechanism detached from the box. Fig. 3 is an inside perspective view of the plate carrying the clamping and locking mechanism. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification of the invention Fig. 5, a similar view showing the clamping and locking mechanism detached; and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the packing to secure an air-tight joint between the box and its cover or lid.

Referring to the drawings, the number 1 i11- dicates a box, and 2 its hinged cover or lid, which may be of any desired configuration and construction, the free edge of the cover carrying an attached catch, 3, or otherwise provided with a catch, with which the clamping and locking bolt or head engages, as hereinafter explained. A metallic face-plate, 4, is secured to one side of the box, and on its inner side is provided with a flat spring-plate, 5, capable of sliding longitudinally, and in such movements guided by studs 6 and 7, one of which is rigidly attached to the spring-plate and moves in a slot, 8, of the face-plate, and the other secured to said face-plate and entering a slot in the spring-plate. The upper end of the spring-plate projects above the faceplate, and carries an attached rigid bolt or head com posed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of the shank or stem 9, having a spherical head, 10,

the shank being adapted to enter aslot in the catch 3, so that the head overlies the same when the lid or cover is to be closed and held in a closed position. The face-plate is provided, adjacent to its center, with an axis or pivot pin, 11, carrying at its inner end a metallic disk, 12, having pins 13 attached near its periphery, which project through curved or segmental slots 14. in the face-plate, and carry at their outer ends knobs or handles 15, preferably in the form of balls. The sliding spring-plate is connected with the disk at one side of its axis through the medium of a link, 16, which is pivotally connected at one end with the spl'ingplate, as at 17, and at the other end with the disk, as at 18, in such manner that when the disk is rotated by moving the attached knobs or handles 15 the. said plate will be slid longitudinally. The disk is provided near its edge with an orifice, 19, with which en a es a lockin -stud 20 attached to 1 b b O 7 7 the free end of a spring, 21, secured to the inner side of the faceplate, said stud being disengaged from the orifice in the disk by a push-pin, 22, which, when pressed upon, throws the spring and its stud away from the disk. The face-plate is preferably attached by simple wood-screws, and the side of the box is preferably recessed,as in Fig. 2, to receive the devices on the inner side of said plate, while the lid of the box, or the box itself, is preferably provided wan surrounding packing of rubber, felt, or other suitable material. By moving the knobs or handles 15 in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 1, the spring-plate will be raised a sufficient distance to permit its locking bolt or head to be disengaged from the catch on the lid by simply springing the said plate outward, which carries the bolt or head with it, and thus permits the lid to be raised for gaining access to the box. If the lid be now lowered, the catch will, by acting against the locking bolt or head, press the same outward with its carrying spring-plate, and as soon as the catch passes the bolt or head the latter will, by the inherent elasticity of said plate, spring back and overlie the catch. The knobs or handles are now moved in a direction the reverse of that above mentioned, which turns the disk and draws the springplate downward, causing its rigid bolt or head to clamp the cover firmly and tightly down upon the box, while at the same time the orifice 19 in the disk will be brought into coincidence with the locking-stud 20 on the spring 21, which stud will at once spring into the said orifice, and thereby hold the disk against rotation, thus securely locking the parts in position, and by the clamping action of the devices provide a perfectly air-tight box. When it is desired to open the box, the pushpin 22 is pressed inward, which disengages the locking-stud from the disk, when the latter can be turned through the medium of the knobs or handles to raise the spring-plate, as

beforealluded to.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4: the boltor head of the spring-plate is in the form of a rigid hooked catch, while the catch on the box lid or cover is hooked to engage therewith, and is hinged to swing outward when the spring-plate and its hooked head are raised to free the hinged catch. In this construction it is not necessary to spring the locking-head laterally to disengage the catch on the boxlid, but, on the contrary, the catch on the lid is swung or moved laterally. Otherwise the mechanism is the same as that described by reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

I do not confine myself to the employment of two knobs or handles for turning the disk,

nor to a locking-stud to prevent rotation of the disk, as other means for this purpose can be used.

The invention is more especially designed for boxes to contain fur and other goods, to prevent the access of moths or other insects, as well as the external atmosphere .thereto, so that when the article or articles arein the box, and the lid thereof closed and held as set forth, the box will be hermetically sealed; but I do not confine myself to any particular use of the box, as it may be constructed to contain any article or articles, or a violin or other musical instrument which it is desirable to preserve from the influence of the atmosphere.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination of an elastic or spring sliding plate, a rigid locking-head secured thereto, a rotating disk, an arm connecting the disk and sliding plate and pivoted to both to slide it longitudinally for engaging or disengaging the rigid locking-head from a catch on a lid or cover, and a knob connected to the disk to rotate it, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a catch consisting of a claw or fork adapted to receive a shank, and having a recess at and around the union of the arms forming the claw or fork, a rigid lock-' ing-head adapted to fit the recess, attached to a shank adapted to pass into the claw or fork, a spring or elastic plate carrying the shank and head, a rotating disk, and anarm connecting and pivoted to the disk and plate, whereby rotationof the disk causes reciprocation of the plate to permit the engagement or disengagement of the catch and lockinghead, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a catch on the boxlid, of a spring or elastic sliding plate carrying a rigid locking-head and capable of springing laterally to engage and disengage the lockinghead and the catch on the lid, a rotating disk, an arm connecting and pivoted to the disk and plate, a spring-catch for holding the disk against rotation, and a knob or handle to rotate the disk for drawing the plate downward whenits locking-head engages the catch on the lid to clamp the lid on the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two, subscribing witnesses.'

J OS. W. HARLOW.

Witnesses:

* A. F. HOWARD,

c E. G. PEIRcE, Jr. 

